Velocipede



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

. E. G. LATT-A. 1 VELOGIPEDB.

No. 377,900. Patented Feb. 14, '1888.v

fm .5U/maf: Jy M UNITED STA-TESI* PATENT QEEICEJW EMMIT c. LATTA, OEFRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK, AssIGNOR '.TOTHE POPE --j MANUEAOTURINGr COMPANY,OE PORTLAND, MAINE.

VELOCKIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,900, dated February14. 1888.

Application iled January 27, 1887. Serial No. 225,671. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, of Friendship, in the county ofAllegany and State of New York, have invented'new and usefulImprovements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is to produce a strong and durable wheelwhich can be easily repaired, to provide a device which prevents thefork from turningforwardly when the'motion of the wheel is suddenlyarrested, and to secure the pedal to the crank in asubstantial manner,whichpermits the crank tobe arranged closely to the wheel.

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation ofthe central portion of the wheel and connecting parts. Fig. 2 isl avertical section in line w a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of theouter end of the crank. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the pedal-shaft inline y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the crank in line z z,Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations at right angles to each other ofone of the loops applied to two crossing spokes. Fig. 8 is a top planview thereof. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the loop detached from thespokes. Fig. l0 is a plan view of the ring orl blank of which the loopis stamped. Fig. 11 isa sectional view showing a slightly-modifiedconstruction of the eyebolts to which the i inner ends of the spokes aresecured. Fig. 12

is a sectional view of the outer end of the crank, showing a modifiedconstruction of thev crank. Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views showingslightly-different constructions of the friction-clutch. Fig. 15 isasectional top plan View of the friction-clutch.

' Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the axle, and a the hub-flange secured thereto.

B represents the spokes of the outer row, and B the spokes of the innerrow.

C represents .eyebolts secured to the rim a of the hub-flange byrmeansof screw-threaded Shanks c,formed on the eyebolts and enteringscrew-threaded radial sockets formed on the outer side of the rim c.Each eyebolt C is provided with two sockets, d d', arranged side byside, for the reception of the inner ends of an outer spoke, B, and aninner spoke, B. The spokes are arranged tangentially, or nearly so, andthe sockets d 0l are arranged in the e'yebolts in such position thateach spoke will extend in a straight line through the socket in theeyebolt and to the rim of the wheel. As shown in Fig. 1, the inner endsof the spokes are provided with heads b, which are countersunk intheends of the sockets d d'. In this The eyebolts may be secured tothelhub-lange i by riveting; as indicated in the same figure.

E represents loops by which the spokes are secured together at theirouter crossings. Each loop is provided with two bends, e @which embracethe outer spoke, B, and two bends, e e', which embrace the innerspoke,'B, the bends c e being arranged in a plane at an angle to theplane of the bends e, corresponding with the angle at which the twospokes cross each other. Each loop is preferably stamped out of a ring,E', which may be stamped out of sheet metal. The loops E are applied tothe spokes by laying` the loops over the inner spokes and passing thevends of the crossing outer spokes th rough the loops as the outer spokesare inserted. Theinner spokes are preferablyinserted first through theeyebolts, and may be secured to the rim of the wheel before the outerspokes are inserted. rlhe loops E form a secure and smooth fastening forthe crossing spokes, and as each loop is constructed of a continuouspiece of metalV no loose ends can project, as is sometimes the case whenbinding-wires are vemployed for sef curing the spokes together. Theelasticity of the loops is suflicient to hold the vtwo crossing spokesclosely against each other; but, if desired, the spokes may be solderedtogether at the crossings. The loops may be applied to either of thecrossings, but are most important at the outer crossings. Thisconstructionof the spokes permits any spoke to be adj usted as totension without disturbing any other spoke or the binding-loops. Thespokes are IOO straight `and therefore not liable to snap off; butshould a spoke break, it can be replaced by a new spoke withoutdisturbing any other spoke. Vhen a spoke is removed, the bindingloop canbe taken off without loosening the other spoke, and a new loop can beinserted upon removing one spoke.

F represents the crank secured to the axle in the usual manner andprovided in its outer end with a series of openings, ffff, in which thepedal -sh aft G is secured by a screw-threaded shank, g, and ascrew-nut, H. The crank Fis provided in its outer face with a shallowstraight-sided groove, t', which connects the openings fffi. Thepedal-shaftGis provided adjacent to the crank with a collar, J, and aflat-sided shank or shoulder, j, formed on the rear side of the collar Jand entering the groove r,thereby preventing the pedal-shaft fromturning in the crank. The screw-nut H is provided at its outer side witha round boss or extension, h,which enters a countersink or enlargement,h', formed in the crank at the rear end of each of theopeningsffj. Thisconstruction affords a long bearing for the nut H on the screw-shank g,which prevents stripping the thread, and enables therearwardly-projecting part of the nut to be made comparatively thin orfiat without sacrificing strength. The crank can be arranged closelyagainst the fork, and insures a close build.

k represents a washer which may be interposed between the crank and thenut H around the extension 7L of the same, for the purpose of preventingthe nut from marring the rear side lof the crank. Vhen the crank isconstructed with a slot, f, instead of the series of openingsfff2, theslotfi' is enlarged on the rear side of the crank to receive theextension of the nut H, as represented in Fig. 12.

K represents one of the fork-arms, and k the bearing-box at the lowerend thereof.

L represents a lug or short arm formed on the bearing-box .715 andextending rearwardly therefrom toward the inner face of the rim a of thehub-flange a.

Z is an eccentric groove formed in the rear side of the lug L andapproaching the hubflange downwardly, so as to form adownwardly-contracting space between the bottom of the groove Z and therim of the hub-flange.

m represents a ball or roller interposed between the grooveZ and the rimof the hubiiange.

The groove Z, rim a', and ball or roller m constitute a friction-clutchwhich permits the wheel to turn forwardly, but prevents the same fromturning backwardly. This friction clutch also prevents the fork fromturning ferwardly on the axle when the wheel strikes an obstruction andis retarded. In the lastnamed case, the fork tending to swing forwardlyon the axle as a center, the eccentric groove Z wedges the ball magainst the rim a', thereby locking the fork to the wheel and preventingthe forward movement of the fork. When the wheel revolves normally, thefriction of the rim cf against the ball m lifts the latter and preventsit from binding between the groove Z and the rim a. Whenever therotation of the wheel is suddenly retarded and the momentum of the ridertends to carry the upper end of the fork forwardly, the frictionclutchlocks the fork to the wheel and prevents the kind of a fall known as a,headein In this manner falls are prevented upon striking obstructionsat a moderate speed or descending elevations,and the rider is enabled todismount if the obstruction is impassable. The clutch is also of greatassistance to inexperienced riders in learning to mount and dismount bythe pedals, as it prevents the wheel from turning backwardl y and theforward falls resulting therefrom. The rim a is provided on its innerside with a ring or lining, n, of hardened steel, against which the ballor roller m bears, and which is secured inthe rim a of the hub-flange bya screw-thread or other suitable means. The ring ln. has a straightinner face, so that the ball m will find a bearing on the same in any ofthe positions to which the bearing 7c may be adjusted on the axle.

lf desired, the arm L may be constructed with a straight eccentric face,and the ring n with an annular groove in which the ball m runs, asrepresented in Fig. 13. When the bearing is not adjustable lengthwise ofthe axle, both the arm L and the ring n may be provided with grooves, asrepresented in Fig. 14. o represents a small screw which is secured inthe arm L across the open upper end of the groove Z, and which retainsthe ball or roller m inthe same. Upon removing this screw the rider canremove the ball from the groove without removing the crank. The upperend of the groove Z may be made closed or be provided with a permanentstop which retains the ball in the groove; but this is less desirable.hen the rings n are secured by screw-threads to the hub-iianges, thethreads on the two rings at opposite ends of the hub are cut in oppositedirections, one right and the other left, so that the action of theclutch tends to tighten the rings.-

I claim as my inventionl. rlhe combination,with two crossing spokes, ofa binding-loop, E, provided with bends e e and e e', arranged in dierentplanes and embracing the spokes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the crank and the pedal-'shaft G, provided witha screw-threaded shank, g, of a fasteningnut, H, having aroundextension, h, adjacent to the crank, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with the crank provided with a series of openings,fff, extending through the crank, and a groove, i, connecting saidopenings and extending partly into the crank, of a-pedal-shaft, G,provided with a shoulder, j, entering said groove, and with ascrew-threaded shank, g, and a screw-nut, H, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the crank provided with an opening, f, havingan enlargement, h',

IIO

IIS v ro 6.l The combination, With the hub having an d 'l Y 377.9300

annular flange, of a fork provided with an arm, L, having aneceeutriogroove, 1,*aball, m, arranged in said groove, and a removablestop, o, secured across the'open end of the "15 groove Z,substantially'as set forth.

W'itness my hand this 1 7 th day of January,

EMMIT G. LATTA. Witnesses: l

GHAs. J. RICE, FRED H. RICE.

